The Manse valley and its religious and historical heritage
Crissay-sur-Manse

The Manse valley and its religious and historical heritage

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In the heart of Touraine, in the Manse valley, Crissay is listed as one of "France's Most Beautiful Villages". You will discover an exceptional architectural heritage, the surrounding landscape and neighbouring village of Avon-Les-Roches.

Description

  1. Start
    The 14-km-red-waymarked circuit (can be shortened if you wish) starts from the car park on the edge of the village in the direction of Saint-Épain. Take the white path that goes down towards the town hall (Mairie) and the 16th century church. Pass to the right of the cemetery then go right again after having a look at the washhouse next to the Manse river. (information panels will tell you about the fauna, flora, and mills).
  2. Château de Crissay
    Follow the path through the fields. In front of you stands the château de Crissay, built in the 15th and 16th centuries. You can see the ruins of the newer part of the château, being the northern facade, which remains the most intact. The magnificient gateway to the chateau, as well as the chapel and the servants' quarters have also remained.
  3. Town centre
    When you get to the road, head towards the village, turn left and then right onto the Rue du Château. Magnificient houses such as the Maison de Justice, the Maison du Grand Carroi and the Grande Maison, all built at the end of the 15th century, make an impressive sight. On the square, you will find information boards about the architecture and history of the village. The tufa stone used for construction illuminates the streets of the village centre. On the D21 road, in the direction of Saint-Épain, turn left towards Puys Renault then shortly turn back onto the D21 road and after a few metres, turn left towards Les Rageaux and Le Puy aux Boeufs.
  4. Barn Carroi
    At the crest of the hill, turn left in the direction of the Carroi de la Grange. From this height, the view of the Manse and Vienne valleys, broken by various hamlets and cultivated fields, is exceptional. If you wish to return to Crissay directly, go left again. Otherwise, turn right.
  5. Crissay Forest
    You will now enter the beautiful Crissay forest, which comprises many species, mainly oaks and firs. After about 1700 metres in the woods, turn left and leave the shade of the trees to folloiw the Rue Chaude ("Hot Street"), so called because of its exposure to the sun. On the sides of the street are troglodytes dwellings, which were once inhabited.
  6. Roches-Tranchelion
    A little detour takes you to Les Roches-Tranchelion and its collegiate church. The ruins are impressive, in particular the flamboyant style of the facade, a rare example of religious French Renaissance architecture. Go back down the road, turn right and continue until you reach the Roches washhouse, where there's a picnic spot. After 500 meters, take the path to the right and then the path to the left to get to La Guitière. At the crossroads, go straight ahead to get to Avon, go left to go back to Crissay directly.
  7. Avon-les-Roches
    The village of Avon-Les-Roches also boats a rich heritage with its church built in the 12th and 13th centuries. Be sure to stop in the cemetery which contains the graves of 78 Belgian soldiers who died during the First World War. Take the D 138 road and skirt the village to the left to get back to La Guitière again, then turn right.
  8. Pouge hamlet
    Descend to the hamlet of Pouge. Go through the hamlet to get to a washhouse. Turn left, then left again at the crossroads then right onto the dirt path. You can see the Oignié dovecote in the distance which has 2.000 putlog holes (pigeon nets) inside.
  9. Vineyard
    At the end of the path turn right then turn left. Notice the fields of vine. We are at the edge of the Chinon appellation wine area. To the right are the surrounding walls of the grounds of the château de Crissay. Turn right to return to the village.
  10. Logis de la Poterne
    As you walk down the road you will pass between troglodyte caves and dwellings dug into the tufa stone. Enjoy the shade they offer. To the right, notice a magnificent building, the Logis de la Poterne, formerly known as Porte Bigot, built in the 15th century. Go over the crossroads, tehn take the Rue du Puits-Auger and turn left to get back to the car park.
  • Departure : Car park in the Village, towards Saint-Épain
  • Arrival : Car park in the Village, towards Saint-Épain
  • Towns crossed : Crissay-sur-Manse and Avon-les-Roches

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